President Ronald Reagan was a great proponent of supply-side economics. He believed in major tax breaks for businesses and corporations; believing businesses and corporate executives would objectively share the company’s profits with employees with little or no oversight.

On paper, supply-side economics is a great concept. It would be the ideal business model in a fair and just world. The problem is human nature. Greed and self-centered goals and objectives caused numerous executives to unfairly enrich themselves at the expense of hard-working investors or employees.

Eleven agencies in Brunswick County and seven from Columbus County have been selected as recipients of Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation’s 2009 Community Grants

This year’s grants total $20,463 to help local agencies and groups implement a variety of programs to help the community. In today’s economic climate, many nonprofits are struggling while demand is increasing, particularly in local food pantries.

According to BEMC, more than 55 community groups and agencies applied for the grants this year.

SUNSET BEACH—A $500 reward is being offered after vandals on an apparent spree destroyed a turtle sculpture erected two and a half years ago on the Sunset Beach island to honor longtime turtle advocate Carmel Zetts.

Zetts said the entire bronze statue on display next to the island gazebo at the beach was dismantled sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.

SHALLOTTE—The developers of San Rio appealed the civil penalty levied by the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources for installing sewer lines without proper permits, but after mediation, the company agreed to pay the fine, according to public documents provided by the town of Shallotte and the N.C. Attorney General’s Office.

According to e-mails to town administrator Paul Sabiston from the attorneys for Sandler at Shallotte LLC, Sabiston was listed as a potential witness in Sandler’s civil penalty assessment appeal hearing.

SHALLOTTE—The Brunswick Beacon requested two years worth of e-mails, minutes and correspondence relating to the town’s business with Sandler at Shallotte LLC, the developers of San Rio Ocean and River Club off Gray Bridge Road.

Town staff provided the information within two days and did not charge for copies or ask the reason for the requests.

Shallotte Town Administrator Paul Sabiston said the public is always welcome to look through the public documents and request copies.

SOUTHPORT—No Port Southport, a nonprofit agency formed to stop the N.C. Ports Authority’s plan to build an international container terminal on 600 acres near Southport, wants to know a better way to use that land.

The group has announced a contest to begin April 1 and run through June 15, asking everyone from high schoolers and professionals to retirees what they would do with the acreage instead of building the international terminal.